Unique Family Activites in Italy

Posted on Thursday, December 01, 2011

You don't need statistics to prove that families traveling with children are warmly welcomed in Italy. This is a destination where"bambini" rule. Below are some unique things you can do with your family if you have already visited Italy.

Pinocchio park in the Tuscan town of Collodi pays homage to the creator of the puppet who wanted to be a real boy. Young fans will see the original interpretations of the character come to life in puppet shows, storytelling and exhibits.

Kids can also participate in hands-on crafts activities such as mask-making, giant chess games and rides on antique carousels.The park also offers the Garzoni gardens, complete with topiaries and a maze, and the Butterfly House, filled with exotic species of butterflies.

In Rome, families can take in the Explora il Museo dei Bambini di Roma, the first such museum for children in the country. Situated near the Piazza del Popolo, the facility offers hands-on fun including play areas for toddlers to crawl around in and a tv studio for older kids.

Monsters Grove in Bomarzo in Lazio, offers eerie creatures of mythology. Not for the easily frightened, the park is strewn with surreal statues of scary stone monsters set in a landscape of beautiful gardens.

Take the children to St. Agatha's Feast day in Catania, Sicily, clebrated in eraly February. the entire town turns out for the multiday event, billed as the second largets religious festival in the world. Essentially, a massive street fair, the festival commemorates catania's patron saint, who is believed by locals to have stopped a tidal wave of lava at the border of the city when Mt. Etna erupted some 500 years ago.

In a dramatic procession, costumed locals carry her statue through the streets at night, carrying candles the size of baseball bats. Food, music and much merrymaking follow the event.

Families can also take advantage of Catania's proximity to Taormina to visit the Roman ruins. Families who like to ski and snowboard might want to consider a visit to Pila in the Aosta Valley, where the terrain ranges from wide-open trails to winding catwalks. A children's ski and snowboard club is available on the mountain, offering a magic carpet lift, group instruction and a new Adventure Park with a ropes course and treetop slides. The mountain also offers bobsledding and sleigh rides.

For families that have not been to Italy, there are introductory tours that include activities for both children and adults. The most popular Italy family tours are Ciao Italia, Italy Family Vacation and Gladiators, Gondolas and Gold.

Written by: C Kennedy
kennedy@atlastravelweb.com

Mother Daughter Trip to Italy

Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2011

We began our trip in Milan, visiting the gothic walls of the Duomo and savoring a cup of authentic Italian espresso at a café on Via dell’Orso. Then we moved on to Armani, Prada, the Quadrilatero d’Oro (Milan’s fashion district), and Corso Buenos Aires, the street rumored to have more stores per square foot than anywhere else on earth.

We couldn’t leave Milan without a stop at Il Salvagente and the Vestistock Due outlets— which offer designer brands at prices that agree as much with our pocketbooks as with our fashion sense. Shopping in Milan was by no means cheap, but it felt so exotic to browse for Italian leather as women greeted each other with kisses from cheek to cheek and sweet sounding Italian words drifted through the air.

While Milan was our soft spot for fashion, in Florence and Venice our shopping quest gave way to an artistic and creative side. Florence, home to the magnificent Uffizi and Academy Galleries, was a classic mixture of art, history and typical Italian charm. Being in the presence of the Duomo, the statue of David and the Ponte Vecchio, we were inspired to find our own piece of Italian art history.

Katherine and I found ourselves at the Oltrarno, a district of Florence where artisans have lived and worked for years and where antique shops lined the cobblestone streets. Showrooms such as Gallori-Turchi and Guido Bartolozzi Antichità displayed antiques ranging from small ceramic pieces to furniture dating back to the 1700s. We perused the stores and dreamed of a house filled with hand-crafted Italian furniture.

In Venice, our shopping interests turned to the bright, colorful and extravagant. From Murano glass in every shape, size and structure to the city’s famous Carnival masks, the shops of Venice were a rainbow of vibrantly-colored souvenirs. With a brilliant yellow and green vase resting on my mantle at home, I am now continuously reminded of the excitement and enthusiasm of Venice and its landmarks. The vibrancy of its colors reminds me of the continuous flow of energy through St. Mark’s Square and the colorful stalls of the Rialto Market.

In the end, I came home with a vase from Venice, a Gucci purse from Milan and beautiful handmade paper from Florence. Katherine filled her suitcase with everything from shirts to belts to ties labeled with names I couldn’t even pronounce. And while we enjoyed the gifts we brought home, the real treasure of our trip was the time Katherine and I spent together. Bouncing from boutique to café to museum, I realized that the connection Katherine and I share is not one based on Prada and Versace but a bond shared only by a mother and a daughter.

Tips for Family Travel by Plane

Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010

We all know the famous question: “Are we there yet?” Traveling by plane with kids does not have to be draining. Here is a checklist to help right from the planning stages of your trip so you will arrive at your destination excited and ready to have fun.

Start by making things easier – If your budget is a little flexible, the best practice is have as few connections as possible. Book direct or non-stop flights whenever you can.

Make sure you arrive at the airport early so you are not stressed while finding parking, checking in and getting through security. Realize that traveling with young children always takes longer to walk through the airport than you expect.

Have your children carry their own bags with snack and entertainment items. Even toddlers can wear backpacks or use rolling bags and they like the responsibility. You may also want to carry on any favorite stuffed animal to avoid a problem if the checked bag gets lost.

Bring a favorite pillow to help your children sleep on the flight and on while on vacation. Airlines no longer supply everyone with pillows on flights.

Have some healthy snacks packed. Don't rely on the schedule of the flight attendants for food. Bring some paper cups and buy a bottle of water after you get through security. Some people take an empty water bottle and fill it after getting through security, saving money and the wait in line to purchase water.

Bring your own entertainment. Do not count on the movie selection being appropriate for children or being something that can hold their attention. Here are some suggestions for the different age groups:

• Older Babies and Toddlers - nested containers, sets of things to put into containers, Busy Boxes with hand activities and moving parts, board books, blanket, stuffed animal
• Pre-Schoolers - books, stickers and activity or coloring books, crayons, lap-sized wipe-off easels and pens, post-it notes, scotch tape, magnetic letters or dolls & metal tin
• Young School Age - books, comics, stickers and activity or coloring books, small magnetic puzzles, travel-size Etch-a-Sketch, Go-Fish cards, books on tape, miniature worlds: little houses with figures, hand-sized playsets, LeapFrog Leapster- fun games and assisted reading
• Older School Age - books, activity kits, blank paper for drawing, Hangman, or Xs & Os, deck of cards, travel size board games, Mastermind: a great game for age seven and up, cribbage set, small Lego sets, hand-held toys with the sound turned off, electronics (iPods, games, DVD players, used with headphones). If you do not have a DVD player, they can be rented at many airports.

Adventures by Disney 2010

Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Adventures by Disney Invites Families to Experience the World in 2010

BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether floating down the Colorado River or climbing the Great Wall of China, families participating in Adventures by Disney vacations will connect with the world - and with each other - during a variety of guided group travel experiences spanning six continents in 2010. Created specifically for families, Adventures by Disney itineraries lead guests through the history and culture of each destination while providing unique experiences and exclusive access along the way.

Entering its fifth year, Adventures by Disney designs tours with the family in mind and provides educationally-enriched experiences so even younger travelers understand, appreciate and have fun in their new surroundings. These hassle-free vacations, rooted in the service and quality of family travel leader Disney, provide distinctive opportunities and special touches to make memories that last a lifetime.

"We are able to offer vacation experiences to some of the most fascinating places on earth, literally bringing history to life for our guests," said Don Gross, Vice President, Adventures by Disney. "Each itinerary is carefully planned, creating a vacation that includes the most iconic and must-see sites as well as off-the-beaten path excursions. In fact, guests often tell us the hardest part about the trip is choosing the adventure."

The Disney Difference

From snorkeling with sea turtles in the Galapagos to discovering Europe's classic history, each itinerary is as matchless as its surroundings. Yet one aspect holds true for every trip: the special touches that are collectively called "the Disney difference" . . .

Adventure Guide: Part storyteller, ambassador, concierge and role model, Adventures by Disney's highly-trained Adventure Guides are the friendly hosts and travel specialists who lead guests on every trip. With two guides assigned for every group (of up to 40 people), travelers receive individual attention to ensure a fun and enriching vacation.

Junior Adventurers: Young travelers are transformed into Junior Adventurers - seeing, hearing and tasting things that they might otherwise not have experienced. The immersive activities created just for kids allow young travelers to learn and have fun in places like museums that aren't always as entertaining for the younger set. For example, at the Louvre in Paris, the Junior Adventurers play an Art Detective game throughout the museum with their Adventure Guides, while adults take a privately guided tour with an art historian. In addition, the Adventure Guides are expert storytellers and are trained to create fun and unique, locally-based experiences for the kids. On almost every departure, there is also a Junior Adventurers night, in which the kids have a special evening experience with their Guides, while the adults get a quiet evening on their own at the resort.

Local Experts: An authentic Tuscan chef, a naturalist from Costa Rica, a Chinese tai chi master - these local experts share a passion; they live and breathe the local history and culture of their destination. They are an integral part of every Adventures by Disney vacation. They join guests to share their stories and provide an "insider's" perspective to each destination.

VIP Access: Travelers vacationing with Adventures by Disney receive VIP experiences that are practically impossible to schedule on their own. Special entry to otherwise crowded sites, unique accommodations (like castles in Ireland and Germany, a dude Ranch in Yellowstone and at the base of a live, active volcano in Costa Rica. Guests also get backstage access of celebrated performances like "The Lion King" in London. These are just a few of the exceptional moments woven through each itinerary, promising expedited service and a broader knowledge of each destination.

Adventures by Disney's 2010 destinations include 19 global itineraries:

Asia & Pacific

• Enchanted China - China: Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai and Hong Kong
• Safari to South Africa - South Africa: Cape Town, The Garden Route and Kapama Game Reserve
• Discovery Down Under - Australia: North Queensland, Ayers Rock and Sydney
  

British Isles & Europe

• Cities of Knights and Lights - England and France: London and Paris
• The Emerald Isle - Ireland: Dublin, Killarney and Shannon
• Once Upon a Fairytale - Germany: Heidelberg, Trendelburg, Rothenburg and Munich
• Alpine Magic - Italy and Switzerland: Stresa, Zermatt and Lake Lucerne
• Viva Italia - Italy: Rome, Tuscany and Venice
• Bella Italia - Central Italy: Sorrento and Florence
  

Latin America

• Path to Pura Vida - Costa Rica: San Jose, Arenal and Manuel Antonio National Park
• Treasures of the Galapagos - Ecuador and Galapagos Islands
• Sacred Valleys and Incan Cities - Peru: Lima, Sacred Valley and Cusco
  

North America

• Spirit of America -Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pa., and Williamsburg, Va.
• Quest for the West - Wyoming: Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
• Southwest Splendors - Arizona and Utah: Sedona, Grand Canyon and Moab
• Backstage Magic - Southern California: Hollywood and Disneyland Resort
• Golden Path to Yosemite - Northern California: Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and San Francisco
• Taming the Last Frontier - Alaska: Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Kenai Peninsula
• Rocky Trails and Mountie Tales - Montana and Canada: Glacier National Park and Banff National Park

For more on Adventure by Disney, visit www.luxurytour.com

Adventures by Disney Adds 8 New Trips for 2009

Posted on Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Now in it's 3rd year of offering guided family vacations, Disney is expanding it's product line. Disney is keeping their original 15 trips and adding the following: